Applications now open for new Indigenous arts fellowship - Art Collector

6 July 2010 | The National Gallery of Australia is now seeking applications for its new indigenous fellowship, launched last week at the National Press Club in Canberra.

The Wesfarmers Arts Indigenous Fellowship will provide long-term support and training for talented Indigenous arts professionals, with the ultimate aim of redressing the lack of Indigenous participation in the business and administration side of the visual arts. As part of the scheme, two $50,000 fellowships will be awarded every two years and fellows can specialise in any aspect of visual arts management, from curating to marketing, finance, publishing, digital asset management, education and conservation.

To complement the fellowships, the NGA has also launched an Indigenous arts leadership program which will see ten candidates selected annually to participate in a short-term accredited training program.

Both programs are intended to address the fact that non-Indigenous people still provide much of the professional support and management of Indigenous visual arts, despite the widespread growth of the Indigenous arts industry over the past 40 years. NGA director Ron Radford says there are currently only 16 Indigenous managers and curators in Australia's major state and public institutions.

The announcement of the two initiatives follows an extensive consultation period, which saw over 500 arts professionals canvassed, including industry figures such as curator Djon Mundine, Tandanya's Renee Johnson and the Australia Council's Lydia Miller.

Application for both the Wesfarmers Arts Indigenous Fellowship and the Indigenous Arts Leadership Program close 31 August 2010. For more information visit: http://nga.gov.au/wesfarmersfellowship/